10 Rock Bands That Quit At The Top
7. Eagles
The Eagles have remained a mainstay of '70s rock ever since they broke out of the California folk-rock scene with Take It Easy. Despite what the Dude might tell you otherwise, the heavenly harmonies and amazing guitar work on display on records like Hotel California and Desperado are some of the most beautiful combinations of country, rock, and soul music ever conceived. While things may have seemed happy on record, they were at each others' throats behind the scenes.
Just after coming off of the Hotel California tour, everyone went into the studio with zero inspiration for new material. Losing bassist Randy Meisner on the tour cycle, the addition of Timothy B. Schmidt was originally thought to be a breath of fresh air on the album the Long Run. However, that was just the calm before the real storm happened.
Going on another tour cycle to promote their latest album, they found themselves doing a benefit for Senator Alan Cranston, which ended with guitarist Don Felder making off-handed remarks about how he didn't want to play. Enraged once they took the stage, the benefit performance also featured singer Glenn Frey and Felder trading threats at each other, after which the band fell apart. While the arrival of classic rock radio kept the sound of the Eagles alive and well, any hope for a happy ending was all but dead after that one date.